Kevin Lowe and Ken Holland (Builder) Join HHOF

[Kyle McMahon]

If Carbonneau played in Minnesota, you’d never have heard of him.

Would you have heard of Lowe if it were him? It's no secret that most bottom rung Hall of Famers benefitted from ideal circumstances and wouldn't have otherwise become Hall of Famers. Glenn Anderson, Clark Gillies, Dick Duff, Joe Nieuwendyk...none of them are going to the Hall if they didn't play most of their careers on elite teams.

In general, all the multi-Cup winners get one of these "best of the rest" inductions after the first ballot guys. Anderson was that guy for the Oilers. Or so it seemed. I had more or less assumed that Lowe's managerial track record had long since quashed any remote chance of him ever getting inducted. Even with the bad Carbonneau, Housley, and Andreychuk inductions occurring.

I'll say this, if voters in the 2040s treat the current generation the way the 1980s generation has been treated, expect to see guys like Ryan O'Reilly, Brent Seabrook, and Eric Staal getting inducted.

 

[rboomercat90]

Lowe shouldn't get in the HHOF with no major individual awards (even nominations) or post-season All-Star team assignments. His best season was top-5 in the Norris voting, which isn't that distinguishing. Great Oilers player and an integral member of a dynasty team, but not a great NHL player.

Hossa has a weak case too with a similar lack of individual awards, although he at least cleared the 500 goal barrier.

The committee should not feel the need to fill all the spots every season.

I wish the HHOF had similar standards to what the BBHOF has. In baseball only the elite players of their eras get in and it’s truly an honor when it happens. Certainly not the case in the NHL and that’s a shame. IMO, it cheapens the honor for the players that truly deserve to get in.

When I heard Hossa’s name tossed around yesterday as a potential inductee it reminded me how low the standards were to get in. He was a really good player but not great. Same situation for Lowe. Whatever, it is what it is. Just need to remind myself this isn’t baseball and there really isn’t much of a standard for who gets in. Questionable selections don’t really matter as much when everybody is getting in anyway and they aren’t costing more deserving players a spot.

 

[Cloned]

I wish the HHOF had similar standards to what the BBHOF has. In baseball only the elite players of their eras get in and it’s truly an honor when it happens. Certainly not the case in the NHL and that’s a shame. IMO, it cheapens the honor for the players that truly deserve to get in.

When I heard Hossa’s name tossed around yesterday as a potential inductee it reminded me how low the standards were to get in. He was a really good player but not great. Same situation for Lowe. Whatever, it is what it is. Just need to remind myself this isn’t baseball and there really isn’t much of a standard for who gets in. Questionable selections don’t really matter as much when everybody is getting in anyway and they aren’t costing more deserving players a spot.

People criticize the BBHOF for the same things, ironically enough.

 

[Bangers]

KLowe, to me, is the Mike Gartner of Dmen (but with more championships due to the team he played on).

Good player. Played a long time. Not worthy of the HHOF but still in there due to longevity.

 

[Fourier]

Lowe was a very good defenseman. People thought it was a stretch that Anderson got in. For me this is much more of a stretch. However, since I appreciate his contributions as a player to an extraordinary opportunity for this fan to watch what I think was the best team of all time, I am happy to say congratulations and leave it at that.

 

[PBandJ]

Still in disbelief.

Chris Kunitz just got handed a slam dunk Hall of Fame case. Might as well let Osgood in too.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Still in disbelief.

Chris Kunitz just got handed a slam dunk Hall of Fame case. Might as well let Osgood in too.

if Chris Kunitz gets in, it's because of Guy Carbonneau...not Kevin Lowe lol

 

[joestevens29]

Lowe is an awful choice and only a complete Oilers homer would think otherwise. Sorry.

I guess the Oilers can use it as an excuse to retire his number now.

He should've had his number retired regardless of whether or not he ever got into the HHOF.

 

[oXo Cube]

He should've had his number retired regardless of whether or not he ever got into the HHOF.

Hey, if you asked me I would retire 94 also.

The Oilers themselves haven't really worked that way historically, though.

 

[joestevens29]

Hey, if you asked me I would retire 94 also.

The Oilers themselves haven't really worked that way historically, though.

Lol, I was going to say this as well.

 

[BudBundy]

Would you have heard of Lowe if it were him? It's no secret that most bottom rung Hall of Famers benefitted from ideal circumstances and wouldn't have otherwise become Hall of Famers. Glenn Anderson, Clark Gillies, Dick Duff, Joe Nieuwendyk...none of them are going to the Hall if they didn't play most of their careers on elite teams.

In general, all the multi-Cup winners get one of these "best of the rest" inductions after the first ballot guys. Anderson was that guy for the Oilers. Or so it seemed. I had more or less assumed that Lowe's managerial track record had long since quashed any remote chance of him ever getting inducted. Even with the bad Carbonneau, Housley, and Andreychuk inductions occurring.

I'll say this, if voters in the 2040s treat the current generation the way the 1980s generation has been treated, expect to see guys like Ryan O'Reilly, Brent Seabrook, and Eric Staal getting inducted.

Dynasties tend to get a lot of attention which benefits Lowe and Gillies. Carbonneau wasn’t part of a dynasty. He was an excellent specialist in a media spotlight, with a French name. Worst HOF call as far as I’m concerned.

As for the other borderline inductees, I wouldn’t lump Anderson into that group. The guy has 6 rings and sits 4th all time for playoff goals. Numerous all star games, Canada Cups. Just shy of 500 career goals. Plus the Olympics. Not a slam dunk, but I feel he earned it.

 

[joestevens29]

Legends of Hockey - Induction Showcase - Selection Commitee

I have no idea how accurate that list is as I thought Lanny McDonald was involved and I don't see him on the list.

Regardless there are a lot of good names on that selection committee. If they feel a guy deserves to be in I can respect their decision. Seems to be a better panel than the NHL has for most of its awards

 

[Shibumi]

Say what you will, but Lowe's golfing buddies have alot of pull.
Fact of the matter is, there are far better players than Lowe not in the Hall yet

These "far better players", have they won six Stanley Cups?

 

[FlameChampion]

Nice to see Holland get in there. Definitely deserves it.

I dont think Lowe belongs there, but as others have said, the precedent was set long ago. There are lots of players who are in that I wouldnt say are HoF caliber. I also dont think a player like Hossa is a HoF'er. At some point the awards just lose their value, but I dont personally care that much. Gratz to both of them.

 

[ZenOil]

Not a knock on Lowe, but I don't think players of his skill level should be hall worthy. Jersey retirement for sure.

 

[RalphKing]

Not a knock on Lowe, but I don't think players of his skill level should be hall worthy. Jersey retirement for sure.

I agree completely. The HHOF decided long ago that it didn't want to be super elite. Lowe isn't undeserving considering other players already in. Lowe is not the worst player inducted, that's such a joke.

 

[Kyle McMahon]

Dynasties tend to get a lot of attention which benefits Lowe and Gillies. Carbonneau wasn’t part of a dynasty. He was an excellent specialist in a media spotlight, with a French name. Worst HOF call as far as I’m concerned.

As for the other borderline inductees, I wouldn’t lump Anderson into that group. The guy has 6 rings and sits 4th all time for playoff goals. Numerous all star games, Canada Cups. Just shy of 500 career goals. Plus the Olympics. Not a slam dunk, but I feel he earned it.

I'd say not being part of a dynasty would actually be a point in Carbonneau's favour. He was more important to the two Montreal teams, generally considered among the weaker Cup winning teams of all time, than Lowe was to exceptionally strong Oilers teams he won with. Regardless though, both are not what most people would think of as Hall of Famers.

I actually agree that Anderson is no longer a borderline guy. He was at the time he got inducted. But now that Lowe, Carbonneau, Housley, and Andreychuk have suddenly been let in, Anderson starts to look like a shoe-in.

As an aside, I'm not sure how anyone can question Hossa's induction. He's probably better than 50% of the guys inducted over the last 20 years. Easily deserving.

 

[Rpenny]

Guess Kris Russell is going to have to give up his number now.

He should take 69 just to have another debate where people just go WTF is this debate about

 

[McBooya42]

management aside, Kevin Lowe was a heart and soul player and no one bled blue and orange like Kevin

massive congrats to Lowe

You don't get to play in 7 All Stars games if you suck. Notably Kevin was never known as a points getter...that makes the 7 appearances all the more telling.

 

[rboomercat90]

Lowe was a very good defenseman. People thought it was a stretch that Anderson got in. For me this is much more of a stretch. However, since I appreciate his contributions as a player to an extraordinary opportunity for this fan to watch what I think was the best team of all time, I am happy to say congratulations and leave it at that.

Pretty well put. Sums up my thoughts on it. I never saw Lowe as a Hall of Fame level player and never thought I’d be having this type of conversation about him. I grew up in his era, loved the team and appreciated what he brought to the game. His selection comes out of left field for me as I didn’t know he was even being considered. Separating the player from the failed executive, congratulations to him. It’s always going to be special having an ex Oiler inducted even if it’s someone who was never on my list.

 

[rboomercat90]

Legends of Hockey - Induction Showcase - Selection Commitee

I have no idea how accurate that list is as I thought Lanny McDonald was involved and I don't see him on the list.

Regardless there are a lot of good names on that selection committee. If they feel a guy deserves to be in I can respect their decision. Seems to be a better panel than the NHL has for most of its awards

Thanks for posting this list. I had no idea who was on this committee. I’ve got to say, there were a lot of names that were a surprise to me.

 

[Zenos]

In a strange way, I feel like Lowe should have his number retired by the Org, but isn't really HOF worthy.

Because you can't really deny what he meant to this team; their first NHL draft pick, scored the first Oilers goal in the NHL, 5 cups (and another with the NYC Oilers), long-time right-hand man to Gretz and Mess, and then Captained the team as the last of the Dynasty players, long after most of his teammates had been traded away. And to top it off, he finished his career back in Edmonton before going on to the roles of Assistant Coach, Head Coach, General Manager, and finally President. I mean, that's an insane resume!

Buuuuut, he was a good shut-down defender who anchored the 2nd pairing. Is that really Hall of Fame worthy?

 

[Hynh]

In a strange way, I feel like Lowe should have his number retired by the Org, but isn't really HOF worthy.

Because you can't really deny what he meant to this team; their first NHL draft pick, scored the first Oilers goal in the NHL, 5 cups (and another with the NYC Oilers), long-time right-hand man to Gretz and Mess, and then Captained the team as the last of the Dynasty players, long after most of his teammates had been traded away. And to top it off, he finished his career back in Edmonton before going on to the roles of Assistant Coach, Head Coach, General Manager, and finally President. I mean, that's an insane resume!

Buuuuut, he was a good shut-down defender who anchored the 2nd pairing. Is that really Hall of Fame worthy?

None of these were good.

 

[T-Funk]

I don't like him for all the stupid shit he has done to screw up the franchise SINCE playing. Whether he belongs in the HOF or not is beyond my bias.
It is funny how hard Edmonton media has to fight on twitter to explain why he should be in the HOF, which imo is a little suspect.

 

[Stoneman89]

Wayne Gretzky
Glenn Anderson
Jari Kurri
Paul Coffey
Grant Fuhr
Kevin Lowe
Mark Messier

All on one team. That has to solidify it as the best team ever, right?

Not till Huddy, MacT and Tik join them.